Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans

Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans

[Thomas John “Tom” Brokaw (February 6, 1940)] Source: LYBIO.net
This is the peace arch standing near the western most edge of the US/Canadian border, 30 miles south of the Olympic city, between Blaine and Washington state and Surrey British Columbia. This was dedicated in 1921 to commemorate the treaty that ended the war of 1812 between the U.S. and Great Britain, remember, Canada was a British colony. That was a long time ago, but the inscription on the arch sums up the relationship, “May these gates never be closed.”

We share more than a long border, of course. No dotted line can divide our joint stewardship of a treasure of natural riches. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, and back again. Shorelines, wild rivers and Great Lakes, vast forests and grasslands, precious ores buried in majestic mountains and wildlife everywhere, from sea to shining sea.

Canada and the United States share another unique quality, they’re immigrant nations, destinations for people around the world who long for political freedoms, economic opportunity and a long tradition of compassion.

Our two nations have the largest trading relationship in the world, 1.5 billion dollars transacted every day. The two way trade at the ambassador bridge between Detroit and Windsor alone equals all American exports to Japan.

And we’re so comfortable as neighbors, 200 million people cross the common border every year. Canada, some may be surprised to learn, is America’s largest oil supplier. And the United States is Canada’s number one tourist destination.

In a snap shot, Canada is a huge country. Second largest in the world, next to Russia. But it’s population is only about a 10th the size of the United States, 34 million, split into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

[Tom Brokaw] Source: LYBIO.net
90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border, residing in world class cities, thriving farms and smaller towns. With good reason, life in the Canadian north is only for the hardy. It is remote and oh so cold. The coldest day ever recorded in North America occurred in 1947 in Snag Yukon, minus 81 degrees, not including wind chill.

[Tom Brokaw] Source: LYBIO.net
Canadians are so generous they share with us their brightest stars in music, comedy, acting, sports and journalism.

And if you’re in a fight, you want the Canadians on your side. They were in World War Two before we were. They were there on D Day, in the air and on the beaches. They’ve been America’s most reliable partners in Afghanistan, and it’s been costly and painful. Now, when Canada loses a warrior in that distant land, the nation pauses, and honors the fallen along what is called, “The Highway of Heroes”, outside of Toronto.

Even their diplomats have been there for us. In 1980, a year before the conclusion of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, 6 American embassy personnel would escape from Iran in an operation organized by Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor.

[Tom Brokaw]
“The United States is thanking Canada for rescuing those 6 American diplomats from Iran”.

[Tom Brokaw]
Taylor hid the Americans after the U.S. embassy was stormed, created fake Canadian passports, then flew the Americans out of Tehran with a bogus cover story. The six in disguise, as a mob-looking Hollywood film crew, allegedly researching a prospective sci-fi flick. Now all these years later, Taylor has admitted he was formerly working for the CIA. And if the Iranians had discovered he was an American spy, he would have been in big big trouble.

In our darkest hours, Canada has been with us. On September 11th, as the United States shut down its air space, Canada instituted ‘operation yellow ribbon’, landing 239 U.S. bound flights, with 33 thousand passengers at 17 different Canadian airports. And then, amid the uncertainty that followed, entire communities housed and fed those thousands of passengers for days afterward.

In the long history of sovereign neighbors, there never has been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada. We share a continent and so much more. Speaking before the Canadian parliament, President Kennedy summarized the relationship this way:

[President Kennedy]
“Geography has made us neighbors, history has made us friends, economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies.”

[Tom Brokaw]
“Those whom nature has so joined together”, said Kennedy, “Let no man put us under.”

[Tom Brokaw]
Of course there are some distinct differences in the culture, the American fans at these games will be unfurling the stars and stripes at every opportunity and chanting “U.S.A, U.S.A.!” The Canadian Prime Minister had to go before parliament yesterday, and urge Canadians to engage in what he called,” an uncharacteristic outburst of patriotism”, saying, “Don’t be afraid to wave those flags, we’ll apologize to the world for our immodesty later,” so that’s a big difference, Al.

[Al] Source: LYBIO.net
He hopes he has to do it very often. You know what struck in that piece, among all of the items, there are more people in California than there are in all of Canada.

[Tom Brokaw]
Well, and Canada has a stronger and more sound economy at this point as well, that’s a distinct difference between the two.. [laughter]

[Al] Source: LYBIO.net
Perfectly put, thank you Tom, we’ll see you through the week

Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans. Canada, some may be surprised to learn, is America’s largest oil supplier. And the United States is Canada’s number one tourist destination. Complete Full Transcript, Dialogue, Remarks, Saying, Quotes, Words And Text.